Target and projecting apparatus including a balanced projectile

ABSTRACT

A GAME THAT INCLUDES A PLAYING SURFACE, A SPRINGBOARD, CARDS, TOKENS, AND A FIGURE THAT IS ADAPTED TO BE PROPELLED BY THE SPRINGBOARD ONTO THE PLAYING SURFACE, AND WHEREIN THE FIGURE OR BODY MEMBER HAS A BALANCED RING THEREON FOR ASSURING THAT IT WILL LAND UPRIGHT.   D R A W I N G

N. R. RENN ETAL TARGET AND PROJECTING APPARATUS INCLUDING A BALANQED PROJECTILE Feb. 6, 1973 Filed July 2, 1971 INVENTORS 1 NEIL R. RENN MADELINE S.RENN

ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 273-101 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game that includes a playing surface, a springboard, cards, tokens, and a figure that is adapted to be propelled by the springboard onto the playing surface, and wherein the figure or body member has a balancing ring thereon for assuring that it will land upright.

The present invention relates to a game, and more particularly to a game that includes a playing surface, a springboard or catapult, and a figure that is adapted to be propelled onto the playing surface, and wherein the figure will land on its feet right side up after being propelled by the springboard.

The primary object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an intriguing, fascinating, challenging, competiiiie and educational game for children, adults and the A further object is to provide a game of the type stated that has educational value for the players or users, and wherein the jingle cards not only add zest to the game, but also the characters are more life-like during use thereof.

Still another object is to provide such a game that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is rugged in structure.

These and other Objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by the like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one application of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the figure or body member to be projected towards or onto the playing surface.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the springboard or catapult.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the cards for use with the game of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 30 indicates a game of the present invention which includes a surface or playing board 29, and the playing board 29 is adapted to have a plurality of surfaces or areas 31 printed or otherwise delineated or marked thereon, and the areas 31 may have suitable numerals printed or otherwise arranged thereon as shown in FIG. 1. The numeral 32 indicates a stack of playing cards which are adapted to have printed matter thereon as will be later described in this application, and a container 33 may be provided for holding a quantity of tokens to resemble coins and the like.

The numeral 35 indicates an area along one border of the board 29, and the numeral 36 may indicate a starting line.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a springboard which is indicated generally by the numeral 34, and the springboard 34 includes a base 37 that has a support member for lever 38 mounted thereabove, and the lever 38 may be pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 3,715,121 Patented Feb. 6, 1973 arrangement 39 to lugs 40, FIG. 4. Blocks or pads 41 and 42 may be suitably mounted on the base 37 below the lever 38. 43 indicates a coil spring or spring member that is interposed between the base 37 and the lever 38, and the numeral 44 indicates a pin that is suitably connected to the lever 38, as shown in the drawings. The lever 38 has a finger engaging portion 28 thereon.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a figure or body member 45 that has a fanciful configuration so as to resemble a person or the like, and the figure 45 includes a body portion 52. The figure 45 further includes a base 46 that may have a protective covering 47 on the bottom thereof, FIG. 2. As shown in the drawings, a ring member 48 is suitably connected to the intermediate portion of the body 52, as for example, by means of arms or spokes or ribs 49. The figure 45 further includes a head portion 50 that has an aperture or hole 51 therein, whereby when the figure 45 is in its initial position, it is adapted to be arranged upside down, so that the opening 51 receives the pin 45.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a game, and in use, with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, the springboard 34 may be arranged along an edge or portion such as the portion 35 of the playing board 29, and then the figure 45 is arranged in an upside down fashion on the springboard 34 so that the hole or opening 51 in the head portion 50 receives the pin 44. Then, by manually depressing the portion 28, the spring 43 will be depressed, so that when manual pressure is released on the finger portion 28, the spring 43 will urge or bias the lever 38 in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 4, or FIG. 1, whereby the figure 45 will be propelled through the air onto one of the spaces, such as the spaces 31 provided on the board 29. The figure 45 will land in an upright position, due to the unique construction thereof.

The figure 45 includes the circular ring member 43 which is afiixed to the body portion 52, as at 49. In addition, the figure 45 includes the base portion 46 that may have a protective covering 47 on the lower surface thereof.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes, as desired or required.

The game of the present invention may be given a unique or fanciful title such as Heads Up Charlie-Put Your Feet Down. The game is a new concept, and 111 provides an intriguing, fanciful, challenging, competitive and educational device, and can be played by children of kindergarten age as well as children of other ages or adults. The game is useful in teaching addition, subtraction, identification of numbers, letters, spelling, reading, colors, identification of animals, identification of the P1118 and minus signs, a concentration and co-ordination of directions and the skill of accomplishment.

Suitable rules can be provided for playing the game. For example, each player will be given ten gold coins from the pot or container 33, and the cards 32 may be numbered and may be in the form of jingle cards which can be placed face down on the table. Each player can pick a card, the highest numbered jingle card can start the game, the player to the left taking his turn next. If the figure 5 goes out of bounds, then the player gets another shot. When the figure 45 lands on double boundary lines, he or she takes the shot over. After the player takes his shot, he turns the playing board containing the jingle cards and the Pot of Gold 33 towards the next player, so that he can take his shot. Preferably, a minimum of simulated gold coins are arranged in the pot or container 33 for use in playing the game with four players, so that 200 of the tokens or coins can be provided for eight players. The first player who gets 35 of the tokens or coins can be adjudged the winner.

If the game has to be terminated before being ended, a record may be kept of each players score at the time, and the game can be continued later on, so as to add to the players fun and enjoyment and to decide a winner.

The cards 32 may have exciting or unusual jingles thereon, so as to add to the pleasure and interest in the game.

The figure 45 may be started in the area 35 that can be colored to resemble grass, and the rules may be such that no player is allowed to go over the starting line, such as the starting line 46, at any time during the game. If the figure 45 goes completely off the playing board, the player gets another turn. If a player loses all of his coins, he must Wait for his next turn.

These rules may be varied as desired.

The figure 45 has a unique construction, and includes the Weighted base 46, as Well as the balancing ring 48, and the head portion 50 that has the opening or aperture 51 therein.

In FIG. 1, the member 45 is shown on the springboard, ready to spring, so that the head portion 50 is down and the base 46 is up. The member 44 is spring loaded so that when manual pressure is applied to the lever 38, and then released, the figure 45 will be catapulted in the direction indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The spring 43 provides the resiliency in the member 44 for catapulting the body member 45. The blocks 41 and 42 may be made of a suitable material such as plastic, cork, or the like, and may serve to limit pivotal movement of the lever 38, and in addition, function as shock absorbers for the parts during the use thereof.

The playing board 29 may be made so that it can be folded to occupy a small amount of space for storage or shipment. The cards 32 and member 33 may be arranged in recessed areas in the playing board 29. The playing rules may be printed on the reverse side of the board 29, or the playing rules may be arranged in other locations, such as in the box containing the parts, or on a separate sheet of paper, or the like.

The game of the present invention provides an interesting pastime for sportsmen at hunting camps, retired hunters, fishermen, senior citizens, as well as for boys and girls in indoor and outdoor activities.

The body piece or member 45 can be made of a suitable material, such as plastic and can be attractively colored and can have a non-toxic composition, and can have an attractive configuration. Only one member 45 is needed for each game. The ring member 48 that surrounds the body portion 52 has a proper circumference in order to be properly balanced, so that the member can land with its feet down.

The member 45 may be approximately from 2% inches to 3 inches tall. In order for the member 45 to always land on its feet, the member 45 may be weight loaded in the feet as at 46 or in the base. A small round hole or opening 51 is adapted to be arranged in the center top of the hat portion or head portion 50, so that the element 45 may be placed heads down onto the pin 44 to permit the device to be catapulted from the springboard.

The playing board 29 can be made of plastic, pressed cardboard, or the like, and the board 29 may have a suitable shape or size. An acetate overlay may be provided for the playing board.

The various parts, such as the token in the container 33 may be non-toxic and can be colored to resemble gold coins. The springboard 34 may be constructed of a suitable material such as metal, plastic, or the like. The finger portion or lever on the springboard may be made of a material that is comfortable to touch With the finger, if desired or required.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a game comprising a playing board having markings thereon, a set of cards, and a token container, a springboard comprising abase, a pivotally mounted lever arranged above said base, and said lever having a finger engaging portion thereon, a spring member interposed between said base and lever, blocks on said base below said lever, a pin connected to said lever, a body piece having a fanciful configuration including a weighted base portion, a ring member connected to the intermediate section of the body member, said body member including a head portion having an opening therein for receiving the pin on the springboard.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,576,515 3/1926 Kinney 273101 1,525,569 2/ 1925 Christensen 1247 3,525,318 8/1970 Kowner 273-10 1 3,596,909 8/1971 Russ 27310'l RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner M. SISKIND, Assistant Examiner us. or. X.R. 

